Cowell 1/116 def Lock 9/112

COWELL finished the minor round in Eastern Eyre cricket with a victory against Lock and a hold on second place, giving them a second chance in the finals.

The home side, Cowell, won the toss and put the opposition into bat first.

J. Gray and S. Kay opened facing the attack of Z. Wykamp and C. Jaeschke.

Lock were soon in trouble losing early wickets.

Gray, C. Wheare, R. Boot and J. Beard were all dismissed with just seven runs on the board, both bowlers picking wickets.

Kammerman soon followed with 22 runs on the board.

This brought A. Hetzel to the crease with Kay to try and rescue the innings and they added 43 before J. Close was brought into the attack and dismissed Hetzel caught by Turner for 11.

F. Slape, with Kay, took the score to 86 but when J. Schiller bowled Slape and continued his success, claiming H. Wright and D. Wheare, Lock were 9/87 with a few overs to go.

Colts player Sam Pearce batted well to hold up his end and remain not out as Lock batted out their 45 overs, with a total of 9/112.

Kay also batted well, opening and batting right through to be unbeaten on 78.

Wykamp captured three top order wickets for 12 runs, well supported by Schiller with 3/32 and Jaeschke and Close with one wicket each.

Cowell lost one wicket on their way to victory.

Jaeschke and M. Austin opened for Cowell and put on a stand of 59 to set up their win.

Slape was the only wicket taker for Lock, bowling Austin for 14.

Jaeschke and Schiller continued to score at a sound rate as they reached their target in the 24th over.

Jaeschke batted solidly for an unbeaten 66 with Schiller contributing 32 not out.

Cleve 10/154 lost to Rudall 8/156

Cleve hosted Rudall in the final round of the minor round, with the visitors sitting comfortably atop the ladder, while the home side needed a win to secure a finals spot.

Rudall won the toss and elected to bat first.

Despite losing skipper M. Noble early, Rudall managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over thanks to a well made 34 from B. Hampel, who put on 46 for the third wicket with J. Burton.

Cleve managed to put the brakes on and with 15 overs left Rudall were struggling at 3/82.

Enter D. Smith, who plundered five sixes on his way to a brisk 47. Rudall finished their innings with a competitive score of 8/156.

Pick of the bowlers for Cleve were G. Rissman, P. Jenner and B. Shannon, who claimed two, two and three wickets respectively.

Things began badly for the Bombers, losing openers Byrnes and Shannon early, and when Kwaterski fell with 58 runs they were in trouble.

Jenner and L. Shambrook batted with tremendous intent however to put on 72 for the fourth wicket to have their team on the cusp of victory.

Rudall clawed their way back, claiming regular wickets, and despite only needing 17 runs for victory with five wickets in the shed, the home side could not halt the damage, falling two runs short to be bowled out in the last over.

Shambrook top scored for Cleve with 52, with M. Noble claiming four wickets.

Rudall now head into the finals after an unbeaten year, while Cleve are left to rue what might have been after sitting second for most of the year.